Trader Jon's Memorabilia Lives on in Pensacola

Retired Vice Admiral Jack Fetterman announced today that the Pensacola law firm of Aylstock, Witkin & Sasser has purchased and donated the entire collection of Trader Jon's memorabilia to the Naval Aviation Museum Foundation (NAMF), ensuring that the collection will be preserved and maintained in Pensacola.

For almost half a century, Trader Jon's was the bar of choice for Navy and Marine Corps flyers stationed in Pensacola. Its legendary owner, Martin Weismann, a.k.a. Trader Jon, earned fame throughout the US military for his habit of trading drinks for military memorabilia, which he used for decorations. Now, that collection of traded, donated and scrounged items will become a permanent part of US Naval history through the Foundation.

The Trader Jon's collection has been appraised at over $2 million, but Admiral Fetterman, president and CEO of the NAMF, said its value is immeasurable to the pilots, sailors, soldiers and Marines who made it their favorite haunt.

"Trader Jon's lives on in our hearts and always will," said Admiral Fetterman. "This collection is the physical embodiment of our memories, now preserved forever by the generosity of Aylstock, Witkin & Sasser."

Bryan Aylstock, senior partner of Aylstock, Witkin and Sasser, said his firm's gesture was driven by a strong sense of community spirit -- and a deep appreciation of the military's role in building Pensacola.

"We are proud to help save the history of people who made history," Aylstock said. He went on to comment that "Trader Jon's was more than a bar, it was a treasure chest of collective experiences and memories that must remain in Pensacola."

Trader Jon's was opened on New Year's Day in 1953 by Weismann, who trained during WWII to be a paratrooper when a damaged ankle left him with a limp and permanently bowlegged. His legendary "mismatched socks" created the tradition of getting a free drink if a patron caught him with matching ones.

His desire to collect military souvenirs came from his close friendship with one of the original Blue Angels along with his lifelong love for Naval aviation and bartering free drinks for something of value.

US Senator and former naval aviator John McCain (R-Arizona) offered the following statement: "Trader Jon's was a place where Naval Aviators went to relax, swap stories and enjoy each other's company. I cherish the memories of my time spent there."

Aylstock, Witkin & Sasser is a professional limited liability company dedicated to serving the needs of people who have suffered personal or economic injury. With offices in Florida and Mississippi, AWS practices almost exclusively in the areas of personal injury and wrongful death with a primary emphasis in mass tort and class action cases involving pharmaceutical and product defects. On the Web at http://www.aws-law.com/.
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